25.1 Safe Working Conditions

The requirements for safe working conditions are established and maintained pursuant to District policy and State law, under the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 (CAL/OSHA). Enforcement and rule-making authority is lodged with the Department of Industrial Relations. The Division of Industrial Safety and the District have jurisdiction and responsibility for inspection and enforcement of standards. No grievance can be filed on this Article until every good faith attempt has been made to seek resolution as follows:

25.1.1 All initial complaints have been reviewed and acted upon by the Safety/Stress Reduction Committee. The bargaining unit shall be represented on the District Safety/Stress Reduction Committee. Three (3) bargaining unit members will be appointed to the committee by the Association.

One of the purposes of the committee shall be to examine the possible causes of job-related stress and to recommend, on a periodic basis, methods and strategies for its reduction including, but not limited to, use of District recreational facilities when not otherwise in use.

25.1.2 If dissatisfied with the Safety Committee’s action, the unit member has taken all necessary steps to seek resolution through the procedures established by the Department of Industrial Relations.

25.2 Unit Member Responsibility

Unit members are required to use District-provided equipment and work site facilities in a prudent manner including, but not limited to, utilization of all safety guards and protective devices.

25.2.1 Unit members have the responsibility to submit written recommendations on the Report of Safety Condition Concern form to the unit member’s immediate supervisor regarding the maintenance of safe working conditions, facilities and equipment, repairs and modifications, and other practices designed to insure compliance with applicable safety standards.

25.3 District Responsibility

The District shall provide the equipment for employees to perform their assigned duties and make every reasonable effort to provide a place of employment which is as safe and sanitary as the nature of the assigned duties reasonably permit.

25.3.1 When a unit member submits a Report of Safety Condition Concern form, the immediate supervisor shall respond within ten (10) days. If the unit member is not satisfied with the response, the unit member may forward the form to the District’s Risk Manager.

25.4 No Smoking

Pursuant to Board of Education policy the Redlands Unified School District provides its employees a smoke-free workplace. Smoking is prohibited in buildings, on grounds, and in district vehicles.

25.5 Contagion

A procedure will be developed by the District for the handling of contagious conditions in the schools. This procedure will be placed in writing and distributed to all school secretaries. 67

25.6 Vehicle Safety

The District shall conduct an inspection of every District vehicle utilized by unit members in the performance of their duties at least annually or more often as required by specific problems as noted on the District inspection form.

25.6.1 The inspections shall be performed by a District mechanic and certified by signature of the Transportation Manager or Shop Supervisor.

25.6.2 The records of the inspections shall be kept on file in the Transportation Office.

25.6.3 Unit members are responsible for completing the District inspection form provided in the vehicles and for informing the Transportation Department of needed repairs.

25.7 Assault

Unit members shall immediately report cases of assault, both physical and verbal, suffered by them in connection with their employment to their principal or other immediate management personnel who shall immediately report the incident to the proper law enforcement authorities. Matters involving assaults on District personnel will be reported to the Superintendent/Designee. The Superintendent/ Designee shall respond to any justifiable request from the employee for pertinent information in the possession of the Superintendent/Designee relating to the incident and shall provide liaison contact between the unit member, the police, and the courts.

25.8 Facility Search

No unit member shall be required to search for incendiary devices unless s/he is first informed of his/her right to refuse.

25.9 Bus Radios

All District Bus Drivers shall have their assigned vehicles equipped with two-way radios in order that emergency service contact can be maintained as needed.